(SHI YALE)

Locals are given free porridge to mark the Laba Festival on January 27 in Qiankou Township, Huangshan in east China's Anhui Province.

The festival falls on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month every year and dates back to over 1,000 years ago. In ancient times, the Chinese would cook porridge on this day as a tribute to the God of Agriculture. The festival is also intended to celebrate the harvest and pray for blessings in the upcoming year.

The porridge typically consists of eight ingredients, including rice, peanuts, green beans, red beans and lotus seeds. The ingredients used vary from place to place.